Evaluation and comparison of oral function after resection of cancer of the upper gingiva in patients who underwent reconstruction surgery versus those treated with a prosthesis

Abstract

Background We retrospectively analyzed the articulation, mastication, and swallowing function of patients who underwent reconstruction or used a prosthesis after resection of the upper gingiva. Methods This study included patients who underwent resection of cancer of the upper gingiva from January 2014 to December 2018. Articulatory function was evaluated with Hirose’s conversational function evaluation criteria. Mastication function was evaluated with the Yamamoto’s occlusion table. Swallowing function was assessed with the MTF (Method of intake, Time, Food) score. Results The mean articulatory function score was 8 points in the Reconstruction Surgery Group (RSG) and 8.8 points in the Prosthesis Group (PG). The mean mastication function score was 2.8 points in the RSG and 3.3 points in the PG. The mean swallowing function score was M3T4F4 in the RSG and M4T4F4.3 in the PG. Conclusions The prosthesis depends on the remaining occlusal support area. Our study suggest that prosthesis is better indication when there is more than one occlusal support area.

Comprehensive Analyses of Masticatory Function in Maxillectomy Patients with Functioning Removable Prostheses: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

“…All correlations were statistically significant. These results were consistent with previous studies [1,3,5,[15][16][17]19,20,29]. However, these previous studies did not show significant correlations between masticatory function and all these variables, which was a distinctive finding of this study.…”

“…In maxillectomy patients, similar findings have been reported in previous studies [1,5,15,16]. In addition to these factors, surgery-related 2 of 10 factors should be considered to analyze their masticatory functions in maxillectomy patients, and previous studies demonstrated that some factors, including defect size and configuration, flap reconstruction, soft palate defects, and the number of remaining teeth, influenced masticatory function [17][18][19][20]. In the cases of maxillectomy resulting from tumor therapy, additional factors such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and sequential complications, which were regarded as tumor therapy-related factors, can be influential factors for HRQOL [21][22][23][24].…”

Maxillofacial osteosarcoma -- report of two cases with presentation of a two-staged reconstructive strategy and dental rehabilitation

“…A further, less invasive option for maxillary reconstruction is the use of an obturator prosthesis. Several studies have compared functional outcome of maxillofacial reconstruction performed by a microvascular free flap versus obturator prosthesis and could not determine a clear superiority of either approach (33)(34)(35). In a study by Moreno et al however, comparison of maxillary reconstruction performed by use of a free flap versus obturator showed significant functional advantages in the free flap group, if more than 50% of the palate was resected, which is well comparable with our two presented cases (36).…”

Development of a Subjective Symptom Rating Scale for Postoperative Oral Dysfunction in Patients with Oral Cancer: Reliability and Validity of the Postoperative Oral Dysfunction Scale-10

“…In fact, previous studies have shown that patients who have undergone surgical treatment for oral cancer experience problems specific to oral stage disorders [9]. If the surgical site extends around the gingiva, it has been reported that maxilla and mandibular loss may occur, and masticatory function may be impaired [10]. It has been reported that tongue treatment increases food residue in the oral cavity [11].…”